Hoping to avoid a takeover by the American bishops, Mother Angelica resigned from the board of directors of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) in March of 2000. She relinquished all control over the network she had founded in 1981. With the departure of that feisty and combative nun, EWTN underwent a change for the worse.

This sure-to-be-controversial book contends that since the departure of its foundress, EWTN has been purveying to millions of Catholics a strange brew of the orthodox and the heterodox, the sacred and the profane. The anti-liberal Popes before the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) would have viewed much of EWTNs content as Modernist corruptions of the Faith.

Pope Saint Pius X condemned Modernism as a deadly system of errors. The Modernist views every aspect of the Faithfrom liturgy, to doctrine and dogma, to Catholic practices and devotionsas subject to change and updating in keeping with modern times. St. Pius declared: [T]here is no part of Catholic truth from which they hold their hand, none that they do not strive to corrupt.

Basing itself on extensive evidence taken from EWTNs own content, and comparing that content to the perennial belief and practice of the Church, the book shows that EWTNs moderately Modernist version of the Faith is precisely what St. Pius X had in view when he condemned Modernism in all its forms, including what His Holiness called the Modernist as reformer.

The book places the problem with EWTN in the larger context of the post-Vatican II crisis in the Church, which resulted from a Modernist insurrection during and after the Council.

The author notes that this breakthrough, with all its disastrous consequences, was foreseen by the future Pope Pius XII when he was still Vatican Secretary of State. Referring to the Blessed Virgins messages to little Lucy of Fatima, the future Pope spoke of this persistence of Mary about the dangers which menace the Church. He warned of the Modernist innovators all around him in the Church, who were poised to attempt the suicide of altering the faith, in her liturgy, her theology and her soul. He predicted that a day will come when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted.

Four years after the death of Pius XII in 1958, that day came with the commencement of the Second Vatican Council. Forty years after the Councils conclusion, any reasonable observer of the postconciliar crisis in the Church would agree that Pius XIIs dire warnings, uttered in light of the prophecy of the Mother of God at Fatima, have come to pass. The Modernist innovators have triumphed, and the Church has been afflicted by a collapse of faith and discipline on a scale not seen since the Arian heresy spread throughout nearly the entire Church in the fourth century.

The author shows that the moderately Modernist version of Roman Catholicism EWTN purveys on television and over the Internet to millions of Catholics embodies much of what the innovators feared by Pius XII had in mind. The result is far more insidious than any open heresy, for EWTNs fans are induced to imbibe spiritual poison along with seeming spiritual goods. The unwary thus accept under the guise of orthodoxy many of the errors and abuses the Church condemned before the Council.

At the same time, EWTN uses its power and influence to marginalize as extreme traditionalists faithful Catholics who try to defend their Church against the suicide of altering the faith, in her liturgy, her theology, and her soul, which EWTN is helping to advance.

The author demonstrates that while EWTN holds itself out as the gold standard of Catholic orthodoxy today, it is actually a major promoter of Modernist innovation in the Church. EWTN is therefore a major obstacle to the widespread return to traditional Catholic belief and practice in all its integritythe only way to end the crisis in the Church. Catholics thus have a duty to oppose what EWTN is doing and to call for its correction.

This book will shock and outrage many, but the overwhelming evidence it presents will convince the open-minded that EWTN is indeed a network gone wrong.

I swear more extreme Traditionalist Catholic humbug in this book. THis too will pass. The schismatic Catholic groups are seperating into so many little factions they will be a non factor in a few years.

It's a pretty disingenuous plug, because I can't see Christopher Ferrara, Michael Matt, or any of the rest of the Remnant crowd having anything good to say about EWTN before 2000, either, given that Mother was (and is) loyal to the Pope and has her priests celebrate the Novus Ordo mass. They're trying to lure readers by claiming that something has changed in Irondale. Nothing has changed; they hated it before, they hate it now.

Referring to EWTN as "liberal" or "Modernist" is like calling Hillary a centralist. You can say it, but it doesn't make it true. I watch the programming of EWTN and I'm a conservative Catholic and I sure can't see anything liberal about it.

Thats true. I guess I nned to start paying attention to the Remenant crowd again. I guess I was so disheartened when two prominent Catholic Apologist went over to that side recently. Esp since they were converts. Well I guess only one went that way totally(Matetics) but even Robert Sungenis who wrote two of the best apologetic books I have read is getting wackier it seems.

I swear more extreme Traditionalist Catholic humbug in this book. THis too will pass.

The 'last hurrah' before the SSPX is reunited to the Magisterium.

Excerpt from an Interview with the Author

Catholic Family News: What prompted you to write this book?

CF: The constant reports and complaints I had heard, and verified by my own viewing and other research, concerning EWTNs content, which especially since the departure of Mother Angelica, has become in many respects utterly modernist by every objective historical standard of Roman Catholicism.

There is no doubt in my mind that St. Pius X, or any other of the great pre-Conciliar Popes, would scream with horror at much of what EWTN broadcasts to the world as authentic Roman Catholicism.

And yet for millions of Catholics EWTN is the Catholic Faith. This network has more influence today than the Vatican itself. And that is a serious problem in the Church...

"Basing itself on the extensive evidence taken from EWTNs own content, and comparing that content to the perennial belief and practice of the Church, the book shows that EWTNs moderately Modernist version of the Faith is exactly what Pope St. Pius X called the Modernist as reformer.

"This book will shock and outrage many, but the overwhelming evidence it presents will convince the open-minded that EWTN is indeed A Network Gone Wrong.

I am curious if they are going to be reunited. I hear alot of so called reliable news that its in the works. BUt then its followed by a alot of denials. I mean the latin mass issue can be resolved. How though is SSPX going to swallow all these feeling as to Vatican II. It seems the SSPX has just hardened in those issues to me or at least the laity in those groups have.

How though is SSPX going to swallow all these feeling as to Vatican II. It seems the SSPX has just hardened in those issues to me or at least the laity in those groups have.

The trads have already begun to splinter amongst themselves. Assuming the SSPX returns to the fold, expect some to splinter of into a new group. This is what happens to those who separate from the Magisterium.

13
posted on 03/07/2006 1:05:38 PM PST
by NYer
(Discover the beauty of the Eastern Catholic Churches - freepmail me for more information.)

I used to and still do love EWTN but I have to admit, it is so boring. I really don't mind boredom most of the time but all that EWTN does is put a camera on someone and let them talk all day. I wouldn't mind if the people talking were priests or nuns but they are just regular lay people

Another pet peeve I have about EWTN is that I really appreciate them broadcasting the Pope's Masses but the person who translates the Popes homilies is a woman. That is so annoying to me that I do not watch it. One time they had a woman translating during the consecration. I know they receive a feed from Vatican radio but I still do not like listening to a woman voice coming out of the Pope.

Slugworth may well have a point; yet I am so grateful for EWTN even so. Just look at the Protestant networks, the insipid Inspirtional one run by Benny Hinn (oh how I wish for a Benny HILL network!) and the unspeakable TBN--the Pink-Haired Lady, aka Jan Crouch, is the only thing I can bear on them! (OK, also the reruns of that movie The Robe!) Even with its faults, EWTN is the only religious channel I trust--and I'm a Presbyterian! (Not to be confused with PresLEYtariansim, the truest American religion.) Where else would I have seen (more than once) the truly moving funeral of kind John Paul the Great? Where else would I be so moved by good Bishop Sheen, the man for all seasons? All I can say is that, rightly or wrongly, I am grateful for what is there.

Most likely a nun from Vatican Television. The times I've watched Mass from the Vatican on EWTN when Archbishop Foley hasn't been giving running translation it has been either of two nuns, one has an English accent.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.